A Booz & Co.annual survey shows budgets for research and development increased 5.7 percent in 2008, a decline from the 10 percent increase of 2007, but an increase nevertheless given the lousy economy, reports The New York Times.

The survey polls the 1,000 largest corporate spenders on research and development, so you could say these companies are committed to R&D to begin with.

TMCnet.com quotes the report saying:

Overall, more than two thirds of companies maintained or increased their R&D spending in 2008, despite more than a third, or 34 percent, reporting that net income plummeted last year.

Eight of the top 10 companies the software and Internet sector increased R&D spending.